RAL 490-6 vs Iron Ore
RAL 490-6 (RAL Effect) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 490-6 reads as pink-red, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 37-point LRV gap — 43 for RAL 490-6 vs 6 for Iron Ore — means RAL 490-6 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 46.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 490-6 vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-6 and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. RAL 490-6 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. RAL 490-6 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. RAL 490-6 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. RAL 490-6 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. RAL 490-6 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
RAL 490-6 vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-6 on one side and Iron Ore on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More RAL 490-6 comparisons
See how RAL 490-6 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 30, RAL 490-6 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
RAL 490-6 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 43, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
RAL 490-6 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 490-6 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 490-6 encloses it.
RAL 490-6 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (43 vs 31) makes RAL 490-6 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 7, RAL 490-6 is decisively the brighter choice.